Dog Training St Pete- Obedience Training Tips

Training Tips-I’ve trained hundreds of dedicated St. Petersburg dog owners and their puppies. Sometimes handler enthusiasm translates into the exuberant repetition of commands stemming from a natural desire to see their dog ( and themselves) succeed and follow through.

One not so obvious piece of training advice I find myself giving to owners regularly, is to “skip a beat” during obedience training. In other words… take a breath, refocus, don’t panic, get your dog’s attention and then try the command again. Some trainers will tell you never re- issue a command and to correct at the time of refusal. This can be unfair to your dog if you are a new handler and do not have an established training vocabulary with your dog yet. I find that there is just as much power in a few seconds of silence after you give a command. Allow your dog the chance to work it out then reward for progressing compliance.

If your dog has been through my training program then he or she knows what “no” and “yes” mean, having used these as verbal markers throughout the training. The word “no” before the re- issuance of a command is a great way to reset and get your dog’s attention before trying the command again. Even if you haven’t been through my program, chances are still good that your dog has heard “no” before ( am I right? ) and understands that he or she should keep trying to get it right.

When working with your dog, keep in mind that engagement is the key to successful training. To help your dog engage with you while working on commands you should speak clearly, with encouragement and enunciation ( commands are not corrections and shouldn’t sound like they are). Never rush your commands…”sit, sit, sit, sit, SIT” ( with panic and dread in your voice)! Instead, say them once clearly, emphatically and confidently. Wait several seconds for your dog to acknowledge you. Get his or her attention if he or she is distracted or has refused a command then say”no”, wait another second while your dog watches you in anticipation, and then re-issue your command clearly. Always follow up with praise or reward immediately upon success. Use treats with discrimination and only for progress such as faster responses or better form. Always be building on your last success.

If you can remember to skip a beat while working with your dog you will have much greater engagement and reliability with basic commands.

The above advice is intended to help with issues of compliance and engagement when working on commands that your dog has already learned the basic meaning of .

Training Services

Tripp’s Dog Training St. Pete provides you with comprehensive obedience training while getting the job done with care and attention. Offering Basic Obedience, Advanced Obedience Training and Behavior Counseling in St Pete, FL and the surrounding communities. Choose In Home Dog Training, About Town Training or Board, Train and Play Camp... READ MORE

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“I spoke with several dog trainers before choosing Sarah Tripp. Sarah had the best understanding of what I was looking for (she took the time to listen) and she delivered! It has been four months since my Wheaton Terrier completed training. Now, Keeva is the “dog-celeb” with all my neighbors. He sits and waits calmly at and in the elevator no matter how "... READ MORE

About Tripp's Training

Sarah Tripp White owner of Tripp’s Dog Training is a professional dog trainer located in St. Petersburg, FL. Sarah has successfully trained thousands of dogs and their owners since 2007. Sarah is Vice President of NADOI as well as a certified NADOI Obedience Instructor (#1118), a professional member of the International Association of Canine Professionals, recommended by local vets ... READ MORE